Famous Women Politicians in India: Women Politicians in India represented 13.9% of Rajya Sabha seats and 15.2% of Lok Sabha seats as of September 2023. The new gender quota legislation in India does not apply to the Rajya Sabha. There are 542 members in the Lok Sabha and 224 in the Rajya Sabha. There are 78 and 24 women among them, respectively.
In this article, we have provided a list of famous women politicians in India, their contribution to politics from the local level to the country level, the challenges faced by them, etc.
About Women Politicians in India
In India, women have served as chief ministers, presidents, and prime ministers of several states. But when it comes to the representation of women in Parliament, India comes in 29th place. Women have always had a low representation in Indian politics. Women have historically been underrepresented in governance and decision-making roles while making up roughly half of India’s population. This inequality is visible across a range of political domains. However, there has been a growing movement in India in recent years to promote gender equality and put more women in elected office. The percentage of Indian women in politics is not encouraging regarding representation.
Compared to many other countries worldwide, women only comprise 14% of the lower house and 12% of the upper house seats in the Indian parliament. When it comes to the representation of women in Parliament, India comes in at number twenty-nine. In India, women have served as chief ministers of several states and as president and prime minister. For many years, Indian people have elected women to the national parliament and multiple state legislative assemblies.
Women’s Participation in Politics in India
India enacted the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, in 2023. According to this act, women are granted one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha as well as in state and union territory legislatures. With only two votes opposed, the bill was approved by both houses of Parliament.
The law aims to improve the representation of women in politics. Women will occupy 15.2% of the Lok Sabha and 13.9% of the Rajya Sabha seats as of 2023. The new law does not apply to the Rajya Sabha. Also, the act stipulates a quota for members of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in the designated seats. It is suggested that the reservation lasts for fifteen years.
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Percentage of Women Politicians in India
While there have been some positive changes in the involvement of women in Indian electoral politics, more needs to be done to attain gender parity:
Holding Reservations
To address gender disparity in politics, the Indian government has set aside seats for women in local administrations. Thus, women make up anywhere from 30% to 50% of elected officials at the local level.
Participation
In India, 65.63% of women voted in the country’s general parliamentary elections, compared to 67.09% of men.
Representation
When it comes to women’s representation in Parliament, India comes in twenty-ninth place. In most Indian state legislatures, the proportion of female legislators is still lower than the global average.
Contribution
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the number of women voting surpassed all previous records, marking the conclusion of a trend that began in the 1990s. Some claim that quotas for female candidates within political parties and the reservation of seats for women in legislatures are two effective ways to empower women in politics.
Women’s Participation in Local-Level Politics in India
In India, the political participation of women rose from 4–5% to 25–40% with the implementation of women’s reservations. The Indian Constitution’s 73rd and 74th amendments provided reservations for women in local administration. One-third of all seats in Panchayats (local self-government) and chairperson positions are reserved for women under Article 243 D of the Constitution.
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment requires panchayats, or village councils, to set aside one-third of all seats for women at the village, intermediate, and district levels. Similarly, the 74th Amendment to the Constitution requires municipalities (city councils) to set aside one-third of all seats for women at the ward level. These reservations are meant to guarantee that women’s views are heard and their needs are taken into consideration, as well as to increase the involvement of women in local decision-making.
In many states, reserve policies have not been well implemented in practice, although being mandated by the constitution. There are variations in the number of seats set allocated for states and union territories, and women are still underrepresented. On the other hand, there are also cases when female representatives are actively involved in their Panchayats and Municipalities, and their contribution has resulted in the growth of their cities and villages.
Famous Women Politicians in India
India has seen several female leaders outperform men in the competition to manage and control the highest government positions, starting with former prime minister Indira Gandhi and continuing with current president Droupadi Murmu. Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Smriti Irani, Sushma Swaraj are also great examples of Women’s Participation in Indian Politics.
List of Famous Women Politicians in India and Their Contribution
The below table contains the list of women politicians and their contribution to the Indian politics:
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Political figure Indira Gandhi was the country’s first female prime minister, holding the position for three terms in a row (1966–77) and a fourth term (1980–1984, when she was assassinated in 1984). Known as the “Iron Lady of India,” she was a strong politician. Born in Allahabad on November 19, 1917, Indira Gandhi was known as Priyadarshini when she was younger.
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The fifteenth President of India is Draupadi Murmu. Tribal leader Draupadi Murmu belongs to Rairangpur in the Odisha district of Mayurbhanj. Through pure hard effort, soft-spoken leader Draupadi Murmu gained entry into Odisha politics. She became the first tribal person and the second woman to hold the highest office in 2022 after winning the presidential election.
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Sonia Gandhi, the former president of the Congress organization, continues to be the most prominent leader of India’s oldest political organization. The party was wiped out in the late 1990s, and Mrs. Gandhi is credited with bringing it back. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, she led her party to an unexpected win. She went on to lead the ruling United Progressive Alliance until 2014.
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Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, is without a doubt one of the most powerful female leaders India has ever seen. Mamata Banerjee is still one of the leading opposition politicians. In 2011, she was recognized for bringing an end to the 34-year government rule in the state of West Bengal. She is the leader of the All-India Trinamool Congress and has been nominated three times to be West Bengal’s chief minister.
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Leading BJP politician and Union Minister Smriti Irani is still regarded as one of India’s leading female politicians since she overthrew Congressman Rahul Gandhi in his home state of Amethi. Irani, an actress who is now a politician, became well-known after appearing in the TV series “Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.” From the time she joined the BJP in 2002, she has never looked back.
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In 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed to the position of Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs in India. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2006 and has held several significant positions within the organisation. Prior to this, Sitharaman was India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs (Ministry of Finance), and Minister of Defence.
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A former Rajasthani chief minister is Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Vasundhara, a descendant of the Scindia dynasty, entered politics in 1984. She was appointed Rajasthan’s Chief Minister by the BJP in 2003, a position she held till 2008. In the state’s 2013 Assembly Elections, Vasundhara Raje once more guided the BJP to victory. She went on to serve as Chief Minister for a second term till 2018.
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With her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi, senior Congresswoman Priyanka Gandhi is the de facto third most powerful person in the historic party. Priyanka Gandhi, the party’s general secretary at the moment, has never run for office directly, yet she is still one of the most talked-about politicians in India.
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One of the most influential women in Indian politics is the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, despite the party’s cadre and voter base declining in recent years. She serves as the president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, which is still well-liked among the Dalit community.
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Factors Affecting Women’s Political Participation in India
The following are some factors which impact women’s involvement in Indian politics:
- Household Responsibilities: Women bear a disproportionate amount of the household responsibilities.
- Lack of Opportunities: Women are less likely than men to participate in groups and develop their leadership abilities.
- Stereotypes based on Gender: Stereotypes based on gender might lead to the underrepresentation of women in politics.
- Absence of Political Connections: Women might not have had many political connections.
- Financial Strains: A financial strain may be experienced by women.
- Lack of Resources: Women may lack access to resources.
- Socioeconomic Status: Women’s political participation may be influenced by their socioeconomic status.
- Limited Prospects: Women may face limited opportunities within the country’s democratic framework, roles, and political decision-making procedures.
Challenges Faced by Women in Politics
There are many challenges for women in politics in India, such as:
- Discrimination: Women’s roles in society are restricted by cultural norms and discrimination.
- Balancing Responsibilities: Women in politics have to strike a balance between their personal and professional commitments.
- Misogyny: Political parties are occasionally unfavorable to female politicians.
- Violence: One major obstacle to female participation in politics is violence against them. This covers abuse, threats, and assault.
- Feelings of Negativity: Negative feelings of anger and aggressiveness on social media put pressure on women in politics. Threats to their physical integrity also exist.
- Supply and Demand: There are barriers in the way of women being represented in governance. The desire of women to run for office and their availability of resources, such as time and education, are referred to as supply. Demand includes institutional sexism, voting bias, and backing from the elite.
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Conclusion – Famous Women Politicians in India
In conclusion, women’s empowerment and political participation are linked and strengthen one another. Women represented 13.9% of Rajya Sabha seats and 15.2% of Lok Sabha seats as of September 2023. There are 542 members of the Lok Sabha, and 78 of them are women. There are 224 members of the Rajya Sabha, 24 of them are women. Regarding the representation of women in Parliament, India comes in at number twenty-ninth from the bottom. In India, however, women have served as chief ministers of several states and as president and prime minister. Increasing the number of women in politics in India will advance gender equality, enhance representation and decision-making, and advance the nation’s development.
FAQs on Famous Women Politicians in India
What is the representation of women in parliament in India 2023?
From 5% in the first Lok Sabha to 15% in the current Lok Sabha, women now make up 15% of the legislature. On September 19, 2023, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 was presented to the Lok Sabha.
What is women’s political empowerment?
In most countries, there are two broad paths to political empowerment for women: the first is to use legislation to set reserve seats in the legislature for women, and the second is to establish quotas for female candidates inside political parties when they are nominating candidates.
What is the status of women representation in India’s legislative bodies?
The representation of women in India’s legislative bodies is now as follows: i The Central Legislature has fewer than 10% of female members. ii The State Legislature has fewer than 5% female members overall. iv Panchayati Raj: Women are entitled to one-third of the seats.
Who is the first woman in Indian politics?
Stateswoman and politician Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi led India as its third prime minister and first female leader from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 till her assassination in 1984.
Who is the 1st Female President of India?
India’s 12th president was Pratibha Patil. She holds this position for the first time as a woman and a Maharashtrian.
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